ENDURING SUFFERING AS TRAINING

August 05, 2024

Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? (Hebrews 12:7)

Everyone suffers. Sometimes, we bring it upon ourselves, but other times, it comes to us from unavoidable sources. Suffering is anything that is hard, painful, enduring, and challenging to handle.

GOD’S VIEW

From heaven’s perspective, the Lord views all of this as that which, when properly responded to, can bring good. It can develop us and train us. It can help others, providing extraordinary examples. The gist of Hebrews 12 is to embrace suffering and find God in the midst of it. That He is sufficient. That He can work “all things together for good.”

And then He gives a million examples: Job, Paul, Corrie Ten Boom, Joni Earickson, and on and on throughout history … people who endured and found God’s grace “greater still.”

Are you suffering? You can cry out for deliverance. Jesus did (in Gethsemane), Paul did (with the thorn in the flesh), but if God chooses to allow it to remain for a season, know that He has plans to use it in such glorious ways that will cause you to rejoice in heaven. He knows what He’s about.

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